"Madonna Litta" to be exhibited in Italy

Leonardo da Vinci's "Madonna Litta" will be shown at an exhibition in Italy, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko told a press conference in RIA Novosti on Friday. The painting is from the Hermitage (one of the world's largest art and cultural-historical museums) collection in St. Petersburg.

"Leonardo da Vinci's 'Madonna Litta', from the Hermitage collection is to be exhibited in the Quirinal Palace, the Italian President's residence," Yakovenko said.

A great Italian painter created the "Madonna Litta" in 1490. Scientists have not determined its authorship yet. Most researchers agree that the painting belongs to the school of Leonardo da Vinci and that he played an important role in its creation. The master's sketch has been preserved.

Artists have repainted the "Madonna Litta" twice - the last time in the 19th century when it was transferred from wood to canvas. Russian Emperor Alexander II purchased the painting for the Hermitage collection in 1865.